Inscriptions in Jharkhand: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

India is a country with its own history and cultural heritage spanning over thousands of years and thousands of miles. The fact that makes India a diverse nation is that each state of India has itsʹ own cultural uniqueness and historical background. But the focus of historians has mostly remained on main stream history away from tribal states like Jharkhand, which is located at such an important junction that connects Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh all of whom were historically important. Citing geographical location of Jharkhand would not be suggestible to ignore the role it may have played in Indian history. This article is a sincere effort, first of its kind, on the topic with the aim of expanding the horizon of research and development of new theories in history of Jharkhand as well as India.

Full text

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InscriptionsinJharkhand:APreliminaryStudy

LalitAditya1

1. ShantaVilla,1stFloor,Opp.AmritaHealthCare,1stbyLane,JitinChandraRoad,
Lalpur,Ranchi,Jharkhand–834001,India(Email:lalitadit@gmail.com)


Received:25June2018;Revised:01September2018;Accepted:13October2018
Heritage:JournalofMultidisciplinaryStudiesinArchaeology6(2018):1067‐1079


Abstract:Indiaisacountrywithitsownhistoryandculturalheritagespanningoverthousandsofyears
andthousandsofmiles.ThefactthatmakesIndiaadiversenationisthateachstateofIndiahasitsʹown
culturaluniquenessandhistoricalbackground.Butthefocusofhistorianshasmostlyremainedonmain
streamhistoryawayfromtribalstateslikeJharkhand,whichislocatedatsuchanimportantjunctionthat
connectsUttarPradesh,Bihar,WestBengal,MadhyaPradeshandChhattisgarhallofwhomwere
historicallyimportant.CitinggeographicallocationofJharkhandwouldnotbesuggestibletoignorethe
roleitmayhaveplayedinIndianhistory.Thisarticleisasincereeffort,firstofitskind,onthetopicwith
theaimofexpandingthehorizonofresearchanddevelopmentofnewtheoriesinhistoryofJharkhandas
wellasIndia.


Keywords:Inscription,History,CopperPlate,ShellInscription,Ranchi,Sahebganj,
Jharkhand


Introduction
Jharkhandiswellknownforitsnaturalresources,butverylessisknownaboutits
culturalandhistoricalheritage.Itsgeographicallocationputsitinthemiddleofvarious
importantculturesandregimesandmanyimportanttravelingroutescrisscrossits
beautifulwilderness.Onthesepaths’travelersleftthefootprintoftheirculturesinsome
formortheother.MostofthehistoryofJharkhandisundiscoveredtilldate,thereasons
beingitsinaccessibleareasduetohighmountinghillsanddenseforestwhereitshistory
islyingsincetimeimmemorial.

Nowwiththedevelopmentandspreadoftechnology,fastgrowingpopulationand
increasingdemandoflocalminerals&ores,theaccessibilitytoitsdeepestcornershas
increasedmanifold.NaturallythehistoryofJharkhandisbeingwrittenandrewritten
withthehelpofnewarchaeologicalandhistoricalfinds.Inthiscontextmost,important
roleisbeingplayedbyinscriptionsspreadoverthewholestatewhichareavery
authenticsourceofhistoryofJharkhandapartfromthesourceslikefolksongsand
folklores.Inscriptionsprovideconcreteinformationprimarilyondates,people,events,
cultureandotherfeaturesofthatparticulararea.Theseinscriptionsarefoundinand
aroundtempleswheretheyprovideinformationaboutthereignofparticularruler,the

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timeofbuilding,nameofdonor,objectsdonatedatthetimeofprayers,nameofPriests,
villagesandrevenueareasunderthemetc.Theyarefoundnearvariousancientreligious
shrines,civilstructures,rocksandoncopperplatesetc.

Suchinscriptionsarealsofoundengravedonstatueswhichmentionthenameofthe
donor,periodofitscarvingandothersuchinformationetc.Someinscriptionsarealso
foundonwallsofOldforts,palacesandonotherplacessuchastemplesetc.indicating
existenceanddescriptionsoffortandpalaces.

ThelackofveracityinhistoryofJharkhand,thatisprimarilybasedonliterarysources
ororaltraditionsincreasestheimportanceoftheseinscriptionsmanifoldastheyprovide
authenticinformationonthecontemporaryreligious,social,politicalaswellaseconomic
conditionsoftheareaconcerned.Thus,theinscriptioncanprovideaidinidentification,
verificationandexplanationofrelevantfacts.

TheseinscriptionsarescatteredoverthestateofJharkhandandholdvaluableand
authenticinformationaboutitshistory.Informationabouttheseinscriptionshasbeen
collected,atmanyplacespersonally,fromdifferentpartsofthestate.Thelistofsuch
inscriptionsisgiveninTables1‐3.

Table1:InscriptionsfromJharkhand
No.Inscription District Period
1SaridkelBrahmiinscription(IAR2003‐04:119‐
20)
KhuntiCirca3rdcent.
B.C.
2KabrakalanBramhiinscription(Aditya2014:
22)(Figure1)
PalamauC.3rd–2ndcent.
B.C.
3BenisagarSeal(IAR2003‐04:119‐20)(Figure2) West
Singhbhum
C.4th–5thcent.
A.D.
4BenisagarSealings(Aditya2014:23) West
Singhbhum
C.4th–5thcent.
A.D.
5TwoinscriptionsfromBelinigarh(ARE1953‐
54:34)
GoddaC.6thcent.A.D.
6VishnuguptaInscriptionofKamleswari
includingfiveothersfromsameplaceof
differenterastill18thCentury.(ARE1958:30)
(Figure3)
ChatraC.7th–18thcent.
A.D.
7Dudhpaniinscription(Kielhorn1894:343‐47)
(Figure4)
HazaribaghC.8th–9thcent.
A.D.
8Chandilinscription(Sircar1959‐60:297‐98)East
Singhbhum
C.8th–9thcent.
A.D.
9Patkuminscription(Aditya2014:28‐29) East
Singhbhum
C.8th–9thcent.
A.D.
10AdityaSeninscriptionandtwelveothersfrom
sametemplecomplex(Mitra1883:165‐203)
DeogharC.8th–18thcent.
A.D.

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11Buddhapurgroupofinscriptions(Patil1963:
70)
DhanbadC.8th–11thcent.
A.D.
12Satgaongroupofinscriptionsfromdifferent
phasesstartingfrom7thCenturyAD.(Patil
1963:527)
KodermaC.9th‐16thcent.
A.D.
13MahendraPalItkhoriInscription(Patil1963:
176‐77)
East
Singhbhum
C.9th–10thcent.
A.D.
14ThreeinscriptionsFromHapamunistarting
from9thCenturyAD(Virottam2006:588‐89)
LohardagaC.10th‐15thcent.
A.D.
15Telkupiinscription(Patil1963:570)DhanbadC.10thcent.A.D.
16ChakradharpurGrant(ARE1964‐65:41)West
Singhbhum
C.10thcent.A.D.
17TwoinscriptionsfromBoramorBuram(Patil
1963:73)
ChatraC.10th–14th
cent.A.D.
18Itkhoricopperplateinscription(Mohan2007:
114)
ChatraUndated
19TwoBamanghaticopperplateinscription
(Ghosha1871:161‐69)
West
Singhbhum
C.12thcent.A.D.
20TwoBamanghaticopperplateinscription
(Ghosha1871:161‐69)
PalamauC.12thcent.A.D.
21EightinscriptionsfromItkhori(Aditya2014:
30‐31)
ChatraUndated
22Japlainscription(Aditya2014:35‐37)(Figure5) PalamauUndated
23Sanghat(VishnuIcon)inscription PalamauUndated
24DatoinscriptionofTaraimage(Figure6)HazaribaghUndated
25Kramadityacopperplate(Mirashi1965:55‐
57)
West
Singhbhum
C.13thcent.A.D.
26KamlaTempleinscriptionofRampalHazaribaghUndated
27TwoinscriptionsfromTapoban(Patil1963:
561)
DeogharUndated
28NavagarhinscriptionChatraUndated
29EightinscriptionsFromAlluaraBronze
Images(Akhtar2001:212‐14)
BokaroC.13thcent.A.D.
30EightinscriptionsfromMohuldungari
(Figure7)
East
Singhbhum
C.13thcent.A.D
31BahragorastoneInscription East
Singhbhum
Undated
32KhalariBuddhapedestalinscriptionRanchiUndated
33JonhaBuddhapedestalinscriptionRanchiUndated
34OrkosaBuddhaPedestalinscriptionKodermaUndated
35InscriptionformRajrappa(Virottam2006:
590)
HazaribaghUndated

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36Twoinscriptionnewfort(Figure8)Palamau17thcent.A.D.
37ThreeinscriptionsfromHarlajuri(Patil1963:
161)
DeogharUndated
38Kumhariinscriptions(Diwedi2008:250)BokaroUndated
39Kumhardaginscriptions(Diwedi2008:250)BokaroUndated
40ChechhauriinscriptionPalamauUndated
41SuryaImagepedestalinscriptionEast
Singhbhum
Undated
42BhandraGroupofins.includingCopper
PlatesofLandGrant
LohardagaUndated
43Gholmarainscription(Virottam2006:24)KhuntiUndated
44NaagpheniCopperPlateofLandGrantGumlaUndated
45Naagpheniinscription(Patil1963:299)GumlaC.15thcent.A.D
46SrikundStoneslabinscription(Sircar1968:
134‐35)
Santhal
Pargana
C.16thcent.A.D.
47Padampurinscription(Arif2013:07‐08)GoddaUndated
48SriSamadgraminscription(Mohan2007:125) LateharUndated
49SatarGraminscription(Mohan2007:122)DeogharUndated
50TwoinscriptionsfromBijakPahar(Patil1963:
55‐56)
East
Singhbhum
C.16thcent.A.D.
51Twoinscriptionsfromoldfort(Blochmann
1871:111)
Palamau16th–17thcent.
A.D.
52TwoinscriptionsfromPanchetfort(Patil
1963:358‐59)
Dhanbad16th–17thcent.
A.D.
53NagariinscriptionofMainaBibitomb(ARE
1975‐76:40)
Sahebganj16thcent.A.D.
54Kutharinscription(Figure9)RamgarhUndated
55ThreeinscriptionsfromBorya(Virottam2006:
594‐96)
Ranchi17th–18thcent.
A.D.
56SixinscriptionsfromDoisaNagarcomplex Gumla17th–18thcent.
A.D.
57ThreeinscriptionsfromChutia(Virottam
2006:590‐91)
Ranchi17thcent.A.D.
58Jagannathtempleinscription(Aditya2014:
49‐50)
Ranchi17thcent.A.D.
59BoryaCopperPlateRanchi17thcent.A.D.
60ThreeinscriptionsfromMahudi(Kesari2008:
26)
Hazaribagh17th–18thcent.
A.D.
61ThreeinscriptionsfromTilmi(Haldar1871:
108‐10)
Khunti17th–18thcent.
A.D.
62MalutigroupofinscriptionsDhanbad17th–19thcent.
A.D.

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63NagarUtari,BanashidharTempleinscriptionGarhwaUndated
64TwoinscriptionsfromZingiLohardagaUndated
65RatuMegalithinscription(Figure10)RanchiUndated
66RampurMegalithinscriptionRanchiUndated
67ChuriatempleinscriptionRanchi1727A.D.
68ShivtempleinscriptionKhuntiUndated

Table2:ArabianandPersianInscriptionsfromJharkhand
No.Inscription District Period
1MainaBibiTombinscription(Patil1963:
480)(Figure11)
SahebganjC.14thcent.A.D.
2SatgaoninscriptionofA.H936(Blochmann
1875:301‐02)
Koderma1529A.D.
3InscriptionoftombofQariIbrahimKhan
A.H.964(Blochmann1875:301‐02)
Sahebganj1557A.D.
4SangiDalanArabicinscriptions(Patil1963:
475)
SahebganjC.16thcent.A.D.
5Mahatpurinscription(Blochmann1875:
301‐02)
Rajmahal1674A.D.
6Inscriptionfrommosque(Blochmann1875:
301‐02)
RajmahalUndated
7TwoDawoodKhaninscriptions(Virottam
2006:603)
PalamauC.17thcent.A.D.
8TwoMedievalinscriptionsUnknownUndated
9PalamaufortinscriptionPalamauC.17thcent.A.D.
10Tilmiinscription(Haldar1871:106‐10)RanchiC.18thcent.A.D.

Table1:ShellInscriptionsfromJharkhand
No.Inscription Place
1ThreeShellinscriptionsfromBenisagar(ARE1961‐62:58)
(Figure12)
West
Singhbhum
2TwoShellinscriptionsfromBijakPahar(Patil1963:55‐56)(C.
6thcent.A.D.)
EastSinghbhum
3KhukhagarhShellinscriptionLohardaga
4BhandraShellinscriptionLohardaga

Conclusion
FromthelistofscriptureslistedhereitcanbeconcludedthattheareaofJharkhandwas
acrucialgatewaythatlinkedmanyimportanttraderoutesandimperialkingdoms
situatedinBihar,WestBengal,MadhyaPradeshandOrissa.Furtheritalsocomesto
noticethatJharkhandhascomeundertheinfluenceofBuddhism,Jainismand
Hinduism.WhileitcanbeconcludedfromthedecipheredinscriptionsthatPalaswere
thedynastycontrollingmajorareaofstate,manyscriptureswhicharementionedinthe


Figure1:KabrakalanInscription


Figure2:BenisagarSeal

Aditya2018:1067‐1079
1073

Figure3:KamleswariHillInscription

ISSN2347–5463Heritage:JournalofMultidisciplinaryStudiesinArchaeology6:2018

1074

Figure4:DudhpaniInscription


Figure5:JaplaInscription

Aditya2018:1067‐1079
1075

Figure6:DatoInscription


Figure7:MohuldungariBronzeImageInscription

ISSN2347–5463Heritage:JournalofMultidisciplinaryStudiesinArchaeology6:2018

1076

Figure8:NewfortInscriptionPalamau

Aditya2018:1067‐1079
1077

Figure9:ImpressionofKutharInscription


Figure10:RatuMegalithInscription

ISSN2347–5463Heritage:JournalofMultidisciplinaryStudiesinArchaeology6:2018

1078

Figure11:MainaBibiTombInscription


Figure12:ShellInscriptionsfromBenisagar

listasundatedarestilltobedecipheredandmaybringatotallynewpicturetolight.
Thispaperisaimedatbroadeningthehorizonforscholarlyresearchintheareaof
culturalandhistoricalpastofJharkhandwhichhasbeentillrecently,limitedonlyto
studyofafewveryfamoushistoricalsitesandtribalfolklores,whereasmostofithas
remainedunnoticedduetolackofawarenessaboutotherimportantarchaeologicalsites
ordeformationofarchaeologicalevidencesbyamateurs.Keepinginviewthe
importanceofinscriptionsingeneralforarchaeologicalandhistoricalstudies,the
discoveryofalargenumberofinscriptionsbelongingtodifferentages,fromextensive
regionofJharkhandareremarkableandthrowaconsiderablelightondifferentissuesof
thatparticularphaseofthehistoryofJharkhand.Thesefindingindicatetowards
administrativeandeconomicrelationshipbetweendifferentkingsandrulersofthose

Aditya2018:1067‐1079
1079
days.Itwillalsohelpinuncoveringso‐calledDarkAgeofancienthistoryofJharkhand
becausetheseinscriptionsarefirsthandrecordofthatparticularperiodoftimeandcan
helpinclearingtheairoffactualcontradictionanditistobenotedthatoralhistorymay
changeovertimewhereasarchaeologicalevidencemaybedestroyedbutcannotbe
changed.Remainsoftheseancientperiodsarebeingdiscoveredfromtimetotimein
Jharkhandbyexplorers.Theyhelpstrengthenthearchaeologicallysupportedhistoryof
Jharkhandandthenationaswell.

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